GRAND FORKS – The UND football program, ranked No. 10 in the latest FCS Top 25 poll, faces Idaho State in the Potato Bowl at the Alerus Center on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Here are eight things you should know about the Pocatello Bengals.
1. The Hawkins family has a connection to UND
Idaho State is coached by Cody Hawkins, who is in his second season as head coach in Pocatello.
Hawkins’ father, Dan Hawkins, is with the team as director of player and personnel development. Dan was previously a head coach at Colorado and UC Davis, among others.
Dan’s father-in-law is Robert Hokanson, who played basketball and ran track at UND and was selected to the school’s All-1950 basketball team. He was captain of both teams during the 1958-59 season and was selected to the All-North Central Conference in basketball in 1958.
Hokanson is from Morris, Minnesota, and lived at the old Memorial Stadium, which was UND’s primary football stadium from 1927 to 2000. After its recent demolition, the UND football coaches’ offices are now at the same location in a new facility called Hyslop at Memorial Village.
2. Bengals likely to have to do without center
Last Saturday, almost everything went smoothly in Idaho State’s dismantling of Western Oregon against NCAA Division II, but the Bengals apparently suffered an injury at center.
Alex Ramirez, one of Idaho State’s more experienced offensive linemen, suffered a leg injury on the first snap of the game.
“All I can say is he’s going to be out for a while,” Idaho State coach Cody Hawkins told the Idaho State Journal.
3. QB takes the lead in the opening game
Idaho State has already started four quarterbacks this season, but the Bengals appear to have settled on senior Kobe Tracy, who transferred from Utah Tech.
Tracy did not start the opening game against Oregon State, but was the most effective shooter.
Tracy is from Chubbuck, Idaho, a northern suburb of Pocatello.
Idaho State has also played with quarterbacks Jordan Cooke, Hunter Hays and Jackson Sharman.
The 6-foot-4 Tracy threw for 5,800 yards in 26 games for Utah Tech and is the program’s all-time leading passer.
4. Hunter Hays is a versatile weapon
The Bengals have several quarterbacks with starting experience, and UND fans may view former quarterback Hunter Hays differently.
In 2023, Hays appeared in all 11 games for the Bengals. He rushed for 234 yards on 61 touches and six touchdowns. He threw for 882 yards on 89 completions and nine touchdowns.
Last year, Hays set a career high with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Portland State.
Last week, Hays had four runs for 24 yards.
In 2022, Hays appeared in eight games for Idaho State, passing for 1,251 yards with five touchdowns. This season, he rushed for 238 yards on 71 touches.
In 2021, Hays appeared in nine games and threw for 1,066 yards with six touchdowns, including a career-high 281 yards in a win over No. 7 UC Davis.
5. Bengals No. 1 passing attack
Idaho State finished the 2023 regular season with the nation’s best passing offense, averaging 330.1 yards per game.
The Bengals offense managed over 300 passing yards in seven games and set a season record with 523 passing yards against Eastern Washington.
The big game against EWU was the best single game performance in the FCS in 2023.
ISU is averaging 329.5 passing yards per game through the first two weeks of 2024.
6. The Bengals defense has problems
Idaho State enters the UND matchup with the 104th-ranked defense, allowing more than 5.0 yards per carry and 238.0 yards per game.
UND enters the FCS with the No. 11 running attack, averaging 4.58 yards per carry and 208.5 yards per game.
Idaho State ranked 121st in the FCS in total defense in 2023.
Idaho State still seems to be looking for options at running back.
The Bengals have 11 players with rushes this season and none have more than eight runs through two games. ISU has yet to score a rushing touchdown.
UND now has five different rushers, four of whom have completed at least 16 runs.
8. ISU has strong kicks
Both UND and Idaho State will face off with the conference’s reigning Special Teams Player of the Week.
Gabe Panikowski, a kicker from Idaho State and a junior college transfer, scored 14 points against Western Oregon thanks to three converted field goals, including one from 51 yards.
Panikowski, who spent the 2023 season at Riverside City College, began his college career as a kickoff specialist at Sacramento State.
